Sofa bed



' Jan. 8, 1946. R. A, BURTON 2,392,309

SOFA BED Filed April 12, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet l 2? lnqni'or:

Jan. 8, i946. R. A. B URTOWN 2,392,309

SOFABED Filed April 12, 1944 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 8, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE son Biiii Robert A. Burton, High Point,- N, 0,; assi-g nor to The Automatic HingeCo High Point, N. C.-, a

partnership 6 Claims.

The present invention relates to sofa beds, and

particularly to a hinge construction for pivotally connecting the seat and back sections of the sofa bed to each other" and to the bed frame.

An object of the invention is the rovision of a hinge construction which facilitates" movement of these'at and back sections" from one positionto another-and which positively locks the hinge against accidental movement in the sofa or couch position of the sofa bed.

Another object is to provide a sofa bed hinge whichis simple in construction and. at the same time,is highly eflici'ent and easy to operate.

I A further object is the provision of a sofa-bed hinge construction wherein a latchand dogare carried by one I; hinge member and a latch receiving element is carried by the other hinge member. Furthermore, the other hinge member is provided with a portion which functions to move the dog to release the latch from its notch and retain the latch in released position until the movement of the hinge member is reversed,- whereupon a second portionof this hinge member will contactthe dogand move it out of engagement with the latchto permit the latch to move into a position where it can again engage themember and the'rebylock the seat and back inone; position of adjustment. n

a Figure 3 is-aview similar toFigure 2', showing:

the back raised by the seatto anormal -couch use-f position; 7 I A Figure-4 is-a view showing the seat liftedand moved far enoughto the rear to cause the, dog

torelease the latch from its notch and. retain the latchin released position. I

Figure 5 is a view showing the dog tripped-to;

release the" latch in the downward movement of the seat. v I

Figure 6 is a tragmentary viewof the associated seat,- back and hinge members. 7

Figure '7 isa-vertical section taken on line T-l of Figure 1. v

h Figure-Bis an enlarged view oi the hinge show: ing-: the hinge members in bed position, and

Figure 9 is a reduced end elevation of the comple'te' sofa-bed.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Figure 9, there is disclosed a sofa bed It in corporating the construction of the present inventioii. This bed comprises a base or frame H supporting the seat and back sections [2 and I3, respectively; As" is usual in pieces of furniture of this type, the base or bed frame I l is of sub stantially rectangular formation, comprising front and rear panels I4 and [5, respectively, and end panels jlB. Legs or other suitable supporting elements H are attached to the base H and sup port the same in slightly elevated position. 7'

Upon the'inn'er face of each end panel I6 is mounted linkage; mechanism l8 which in turn is connected to' a hinge I9; whereby the seat and back sections may be moved to different positions of adjustment relatively to the base or frame H. The linkage mechanism may be of the usual'con struction' employed in furniture of this character and consists of a bar 20' rigidly secured to the" inner face ofits respective end panel l6. Links 2T and 22 have their lower ends pivotally secured this in ention comprises" a pair or hing-e members 23 and 24. since" l li rllgfli member 23 is secured to" 2W adjacent'it's upper" end, as" at 26. It is to be understood that there are separate sets' of linkage mechanism and hinge members at each end of the sofa bed, but since these are substantially identical iii construction; only Oh set will b described in detail.

Referring to Figures 1, 6 and 8, it will be observed that seat hinge member23 is substantially fiatinformation and extends upwardly and rear wardlyfroma base 21 constituting a right angled flange integral with the lower edge of the seat hinge member. This base or flange 21 i s'ecur'e'd' to an end rail 28 mnnmg" apart of the frame structureof v member." 2 is also silbstafitiallly flat information aiiuis'p'rcviuea with a iower'right angled fi a'hge' This forms" the' the seat section l2. The back hinge 29, similar to the flange 21. This flange is secured to an end rail 30 forming a part of the frame structure of the back section l3.

The flange 29 does not extend entirely to the inner edge of the hinge section 24 but terminates at a point rearwardly of said inner edge. At a pclint between the inner end of the flange 29 and the inner edge of the member 24 is located a latch 3| which is pivotally mounted on the member 24 as at 32. As shown in Figures 1 and 8, this pivot point 32 is adjacent to the lower edge of the member 24 and the latch 3| is of such a length that its free end extends substantially to the inner end of the member 24. In the bed position of the hinge, such as shown in Figure 8, the latch 3| normally engages the curved lower edge 33 of the seat hinge member 23. Any suitable mean such as the spring 34 may be provided to urge the upper edge 35 of the latch into engagement with the edge 33 of the seat hinge member 23. The spring 34 is of substantially U-shaped formation and has the end of its lower arm 36 anchored in an opening 31 located in the lower portion of the back hinge member 24. The end of the upper arm 38 of the spring passes through an opening 39 in the latch 3| and is additionally anchored to the latch by means of a struck up and bent over strap 40 which forms an integral part of latch 3|.

The upper edge 35 of the latch is provided with a notch 4| adjacent the pivot point 32. This notch is adapted to be engaged by the corner portion or projection 42 of a dog 43 as will be hereinafter described in detail. This dog is pivoted as at to the fiat face of the back hinge member 24 ata point slightly above the latch 3|. A pin or projection 45 is located above the dog to limit upward movement of the dog about its pivot. In addition'to projection 42, the dog is provided with a pointed projection 46 for engagement with a portion of the seat hinge 23 as will also be described in detail hereinafter.

, Itwill be observed that the curved portion 33 of the seat hinge member 23 is located somewhat above the base or flange 21 of said seat hinge member. That is, the fiat surface of the member 23 has been cut away adjacent its lower end to provide a space forthe reception of the latch 3| where-by the upper edge 35 of the latch may contact the edge 33 and slide alon the same when the member 23 isjmoved about its pivot relatively to the member 24.

Referring again to Figure 8, it will be observed that the lower curved edge 33 of the seat hinge member 23 is provided with a notch 41 adjacent its inner edge." This notch is preferably formed by cutting out and striking up a portion of the flat surface of the member 23 so as to not only provide the notch 41 but also a post 48 which constitutes means for preventing the dog 43 from accidentally sliding over the surface of the member 23 in the event that the pivots should become sufficiently loose to permit this movement to take place. It will also be observed that the lower inner edge of the back hinge member 24 is struck up to provide the post 43, which constitutes means to prevent the latch 3| from dropping below a predetermined point. This post 49 also prevents the seat hinge member 23 from swinging or opening too far. In other words, the inner vertical edge 50 will strike the post 49 in the event that the hinge member 23 is moved inwardly too far when being swung down to its horizontal bed position.

In the position shown in Figure 8, the seat hinge member 23is provided inwardly of its pivot 25 with a projection r finger which i located adjacent the notch 41 and is adapted to engage the V-shaped projection 43 and move the dog 43 downwardly about its pivot when the hinge member 23 is moved from one position of adjustment to another. The seat hinge member 23 is also provided with a top projection or finger 52 which is spaced from and connected to the projection 5| by a curved edge 53 which forms with said projections a pocket for receiving the dog 43, as will be hereinafter described in detail.

Referring to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 9, and assuming that it is desired to move the seat and back sections I2 and |3 from their bed position shown in Figures 1 and 9 to the sofa or couch use position, this is accomplished by initially swinging the seat section |2 about its pivot 25 to the position shown in Figure 2. During this movement of the seat section about its pivot, the latch 3| will slide on the lower curved edge 33 of the seat hinge member 23 until it engages the notch 41. When this has been accomplished, the position of the seat is then reversed. That is, it is swung downwardly to its horizontal position and because of the interlocking connection between the latch 3| and the notch 41, the back section I3 will be moved to its normal operative position shown in Figure 3. It will be observed that the construction of the latch and notch is such that the pressure exerted on the back when in normal use will have the effect of urging the latch into interlocking engagement with the notch. It is to be understood, of course, that the spring 34 constantly urges the latch 3| toward the seat hinge member 23. Thus, a relatively solid and rigid construction is. provided which will withstand the normal strain and stress imposed upon the sofa bed.

When it is again desired to move the back and seat sections to their horizontal position shown in Figure 1, this may be easily and quickly accomplished by initially swinging the back section to a substantially horizontal position such as shown in Figure 2. This movement will raise the seat section |2. Thereafter, the seat section should be moved further about its pivot to the position shown in Figure 4'. This further movement, that is, the movement of the seat from the position shown in Figure 2 to that in Figure 4, will bring into operation'the top projection orfinger 52 of the seat hinge section '23. The hinge section 23, of course, swings about its pivot during movement of seat section |2 and in the present instance brings the projection 52 into engagement with the pointed projection 46. This will swing the dog 43 downwardly about its pivot so that the projection 42 on the dog will engage the top edge 35 ofthe latch and move it out of engagement with the notch 41 as the hinge member 23 is further moved about its pivot. The projection 42 of the dog will continue to slide along the top edge 35 ofthe latch until it engages the latch notch 4|; When this is accomplished, the dog will retain the latch in its released position so that the seat section 12 may be removed in the reverse direction, that is, downwardly to the horizontal bed positiom Just before the seat section l2 ,moves to its extreme horizontal position, the d og 43 is released from the latch notch 4| to permit the latch toagain engage the curved edge 33 of the seat hinge member 23 so that itwillbe in a position to slide along said edge and. engage the notch 41 when the seat section I2 is subsequently raised to the position shown in Figure2.

Referring :to Figure 5, there is disclosed the means for disengaging the dog 43 'froin th latch aecagsoe notch M. As the seat section I 2 is swung to the position shown in Figure 5, the projection of the hinge member l3 engages the'free edge por tion 54' of the dog 43. Thiswill have the effect or moving the dog about its pivot 44 and thus raise the projection 42 out of engagement with the notch 4|. As soon as this is accomplished, the spring 34 is free to urge the latch intoengagement with the edge 33 of the hinge section 23', whereby the latch is in position to slide along the edge 33 and engage the notch '41 when the seat section is again moved from its bed position. From the foregoing, it Will be observed that the present invention provides a hinge which is quite simple in construction and which is capable of positively locking the seat and back sections in the sofa or "couch use osition of the sofa bed.

twill further be noted that the hinge structure'is quite compact and Jfiat and that certain of the operating elements such as the projections or fingers are in the same plane as the flat hinge member 23 and, in fact, constitute integral cit-tensions of said member. While it has been stated that both sets of hinges are substantially identical in construction, it is to be understood that the hinge located at the opposite end of the sofa bed, from that illustrated in the drawings, will have its flanges 21' and 29 projecting in the opposite direction from the flanges 21 and 29 shown-in Figure 6. That is, each set of flanges will face the other set. Likewise, the latch 3| and dog 43 of this last mentioned hinge will be mounted on the opposite face of the hinge membe'r 2'4 from that disclosed in the'drawings. That is, these 'el'e'ments will be on the inside surface of its hinge member and face the other latch and dog. It will be appreciated, however, that while these changes are necessary from a practical standpoint, they do not change the structural features and operation of the hinge. Thus, both hinges are substantially identical and function in the same manner.

Referring to Figures 1 and '8, it will be observed that the flange 29 is provided with :a struck-up portion 55 overlying the base of the spring 34. This is for the purpose of preventing accidental displacement of this ortion of the spring. Thus, the portion 55 cooperates with the strap 40 to anchor the spring in proper operating position.

It is to be understood that while the hinge construction is particularly designed and adapted for use in sofa beds or the like, it is capable of being employed for use in other devices. It is to be further understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction shown in the drawings and that the phraseology employed in the specification is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

I claim:

1. In a sofa bed having a back and a seat movable as a unit out of their sofa-forming positions and also movable relatively to each other, a hinge pivotally connecting said back and seat, said hinge comprising a first hinge member secured to the back, a second hinged member secured to the seat and pivoted to the first member in overlapping relation, said seat hinge member having a notch, a latch movably mounted on the back hinge member and normally urged into contact with the seat hinge member and adapted upon movement of said seat hinge member about its pivot to engage the notch and retain said hinge members in one position of adjustment, means movably carried by said back hinge member engageable with the latch to release it from the notch and to retain said latch in released posit. tion, means on said seat hinge member engageable with said first mentioned means to move said first mentioned means into retaining relation with the latch, and additional means on said seat hinge member engageable with said first mentioned means to move said first mentioned means out of retaining relation with the latch and therebypermit the latch tomove into engagement with said seat hinge member.

2. In a sofa bed having a back and a seat movable as a unit out of their sofa-forming positions and movable relatively to each other, a hinge pivotally connecting said back and seat, said hinge comprising a pair of hinge members, each having a substantially fiat surface, one of said hinge members being secured to the back, the other ofsaid hinge members being secured to the seat'and pivoted to the back hinge member in overlapping relation, said seat hinge member having an edge terminating in a notch adjacent its inner overlapped end, a latch pivotally mounted on the back hinge member below the notch edge of the seat hinge member and normally urged into contact with said edge, said latch upon movement of said seat hinge member being adapted to slide on said edge and engage said notch to thereby retain said hinge members in one position of adjustment, said latch having a notch formed in one of its edges, a dog pivotally mounted on saidback hinge member above the latch and having a portion thereof slidable along said latch edge into engagement with said latch notch to release said latch from the notch on the seat hinge member and to retainsaid latch in released position, said seat hinge member having a portion thereof adapted when said seat hinge member is moved about its pivot in one direction, to move into engagement with the dog for controlling the latch releasing movement of said dog, said seat hinge member also having a portion thereof adapted when said seat hinge member is moved about its pivot in the reverse direction, to move into engagement with the dog to release it from the latch notch and thereby permit the latch to move into engagement with the edgeof-the seat 'hinge'member.

3; In a hinge for a sofa bed, a pair of hinge members, each having a substantially flat surface, said members having portions of their flat surfaces arranged in overlapping relation and pivoted to each other within the overlapped area, one of said members having an edge termination in a notch adjacent its inner overlapped end, a latch movably mounted on the second hinge member adjacent the notched edge of the first hinge member and normally urged into contact Y with said edge, said latch upon movement of said first hinge member about its pivot being adapted to slide on said edge and engage said notch to thereby retain said hinge members in one position of adjustment, means movably carried by said second hinge member engageable with the latch to release it from the notch and to retainv said latch in released position, means on said first hinge member engageable with said first mentioned means to move said first mentioned means into retaining relation with the latch, and, additional means on said first hinge member engageable with said first mentioned means to move said first mentioned means out of retaining rela-- tion with the latch and thereby permit the latch to move into engagement with the edge of the first hinge member.

4. In a hinge for a sofa bed. a pair of hinge members, each having a substantially flat surface, said members having portions of their flat surfaces arranged in overlapping relation and pivoted to each other within the overlapped area, one of said members having an edge terminating in a notch adjacent its inner overlapped end, a latch pivotally mounted on the second hinge member adjacent the notched edge of the first hinge member and normally urged into contact with said edge, said latch upon movement of said first hinge member about its pivot, being adapted to slide on said edge and engage said notch to thereby retain said hinge members in one position of adjustment, said latch having a notch formed in one of its edges, a dog pivotally mounted on said second hinge member and having a portion thereof slidable along said latch edge into engagement with said latch notch to release said latch from the notch on the first hinge member and to retain said latch in released position, said first hinge member having a portion thereof adapted when said first hinge member is moved about its pivot in one direction, to move into engagement with the dog for controlling the latch releasing movement of said dog,

said first hinge member also having a portion thereof adapted when said first hinge member is moved about its pivot in the reverse direction, to

move into engagement with the dog to release it from the latch notch and thereby permit the latch to move into engagement with the edge of the first hinge member.

5. In a hinge for a sofa bed, a pair of hinge members, each having a substantially flat surface, said members having portions of their fiat surfaces arranged in overlapping relation and pivoted to each other within the overlapped area, one of said members having a curved lower edge portion terminating in a notch adjacent its inner overlapped end, said member having a projection located inwardly of the notch and a second projection spaced from and above the first projection, a latch pivotally mounted on the second hinge member below the curved lower edge portion of the first member and normally urged into engagement with said edge, said latch having a notch formed in its top edge, a dog pivotally mounted on said second hinge member above said latch and having a portion thereof slidable along said latch edge into engagement with said latch notch to release said latch from the notch on the first hinge member and to retain said latch in released position, the second mentioned upper projection on said first hinge member being adapted when said first hinge member is moved about its pivot in one direction, to move into engagement with the dog to move said dog into retaining relation with the latch, said first mentioned projection being adapted, when said first hinge member is moved about its pivot in the reverse direction, to move into engagement with the dog to release it from the latch notch and thereby permit the latch to move into engagement with the lower curved edge of the first hinge member.

6.-In a hinge for a sofa bed, a pair of hinge members, each having a substantially fiat surface, said members having portions of their flat surfaces arranged in overlapping relation and pivoted to each other within the overlapped area, a latch movably carried by one hinge member, spring means associated with the latch and normally urging it into engagement with the other hinge member, said other hinge member having an element erigageable with the latch to retain said hinge members in one position of adjustment, said second hinge member having portions of its fiat surface extended to form a pair of spaced projections, a dog movably mounted on said first hinge member adjacent the latch and engageable-therewith to release the latch from said element and retain the latch in released position against the action of said spring means, one of said projections on the second hinge member being adapted when said second hinge member is moved about its pivot in one direction, to move into engagement with the dog to move said dog into retaining relation with the latch, said other projection being adapted when said second hing-e member is moved about its pivot in the reverse direction, to move into engagement with the dog to release it from the latch and thereby permit the latch to move toward said second hinge member.

ROBERT A. BURTON. 

